Hello Tweeters,

Yesterday, while parked on a side street in downtown Kirkland, I happened
to witness three crows attacking and killing a robin. If it hadn't been
for last week's posts about crows killing other birds I never would have
been prepared to see such a thing.

I was on my cell phone getting tech support from my motorcycle mechanic,
when I was distracted by birds across the street screeching loudly and
intently. Three crows squabbling with some robins, and it seemed they were
harassing one in particular. Compared to the crows it was tiny - was it a
small adult or large juvenile? This robin was screeching loudly, other
robins seemed to be on the periphery, then the crows started getting
physical with their intended victim. I didn't realize they were going to
kill and eat the little robin until it seemed to go dead and get carried
away, all in one instant.

My wife and I are now concerned for our backyard birds, because there are
two crows which have taken to hanging out in our yard over the past few
weeks. Are chickadees, juncos, robins, thrushes, etc. in danger when they
come to visit our feeders? If so, is there anything we can do?

Scott Orange
Sammamish, WA (wooded backyard)